protecting my treasures

The pirates are always stealing my treasure. "What pirates?" you might ask. Anger, selfishness, busyness, and financial burdens, just to name a few.

I met a woman blessed by God and sharing His love this past weekend. Melissa Taylor enlightened 49 ladies and myself about piracy. Piracy is the unauthorized use of another's production. In "religious" terms, it's Satan's unauthorized use of God's creation. Specifically, you and I. Satan has no authority over us and if we order him out of our lives in the name of Jesus Christ, he will be forced out. While that sounds easy enough, Satan is continually feeding negative, hateful or deceitful thoughts into our minds. Self-doubt comes from Satan, just as self-absorption.

Saturday night, I forced out the pirates in exchange for God's treasure - a verse of His Word just for me.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:5-6

Basically, if I'll only trust God completely and without doubt, He'll show me my way and reveal the plans He has for me.

So long, house hanging over my head!

So long, quick temper!

So long, time deprivation!

Today I spent the morning hours in devotional time. "Dwell time with God," as a new friend put it, must be a priority in my life. While I do not have three hours each day to study and breathe in His Word, I will be carving out at least an hour. The more time I spend with Him, the farther away the pirates will be.

Blessings to you, friends.
-Casey

parenting is tough work

Today's sermon was great. The teen pastor at our church delivered the message and while we don't yet have a teen, the message was still incredibly powerful and brought me to tears. My friends often hear me worry aloud that I'm running out of time with my daughter. She's almost seven, highly impressionable, and typically concerned with what is perceived as cool and fun. This is where I thank God that we continue to scrape up enough money to send her to a Christian school. I think we're able to circumvent some of what other parents of this age are dealing with just by removing her from the mainstream culture.

With that last thought expressed, let me say that it is not my desire to raise my children in a bubble. I do not wish them to be ridiculously naive or unable to function within society. Rather, I do believe (and have always believed) that if a child doesn't know what she's missing, she doesn't know what she's missing. Why expose her to situations and circumstances that she really doesn't need to experience?

I've made this argument for funerals, for example. She really doesn't need to attend a funeral just for the sake of going. The only time I give in on this issue is when it's a close family member that will actually be absent from her day-to-day. Arguments made against me are proposterous and include "but she won't know how to deal with death if you wait until she's older." Says who? We're all different and we all deal with things differently.

Back on point ...

If I'm doing my job as a Christian mother, then my child should turn out okay. What does mothering the "right way" look like? Here are bullet points from today's sermon. Make no mistake, this entry is more of a reminder for me than it is meant to be good reading for you, although I do hope that you can take something away from this.

• Guard your heart: God's love for you can rule your life. Satan's hatred for you can ruin your life if you're not guarded.
• Guard your time: We need to know what our mission is and stay focused on it. Keeping your mission in focus will clarify difficult decisions.
• Guard your kids: Don't follow the culture's example in how to raise your kids. Pray for God's glory, guidance and guts to live for Him.

"Whoever shows your son/daughter the most attention and acceptance wins their affection."

I have experienced that last sentiment, as my family knows. A dear friend of mine recently had the sex, drugs and alcohol talk with her "newly teenaged" daughter. I'm praying for them - that somehow this beloved daughter will be spared the peer pressure and that her parents stand strong in their expectations and discipline. As the Pastor put it - parents should be the most accepting and attentive people in kids' lives. When that's true, the parents win the affection.

"Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment." -Ecclesiastes 11:9

prayers are answered, really

If you've ever doubted that God is listening, I'm here to tell you that He most certainly is. The key is knowing that nothing is ever done on our schedule, but on His.

We've felt downtrodden about prayers not answered immediately, as our need seems immediate when we finally fall to our knees and ask for His help. What we don't recognize is that God always makes a way when the way seems impossible.

For example, my family has called Chesterfield County home for almost two years. It has not been a comfortable time for us. We've been challenged to put all of our trust in God and know that our lives truly are in His hands. Why? For nearly two years we have both owned a home and rented a home. At the same time. Simultaneously. That's tough stuff in the current economic climate.

We have foregone nicer clothes and shoes and have been humbled to ask for help clothing our children. One thing was not sacrificed during this time, however. Though the monthly tuition payment has been late on occasion, we've put our daughter's walk with Jesus Christ in a Christian school above all else. We are now fortunate enough to have finally found a Christian sitter for our son! The friends you make in fellowship are the best friends indeed. Shared values are priceless when asking others to assist in the care and education of your children.

For the blessings we've received these past two years, we give praise to God. For the trials that have strengthened our relationship with Him, we give praise as well. Friends, it's not all about us. It's about our relationship with the Creator and praising Him for His gifts of grace, salvation, and all things received in this short life on Earth.